Shipping container for glass sheets



Jan. 12, 1954 Filed Dec. 7, 1951 M. C. KOESTER SHIPPING CONTAINER FOR GLASS SHEETS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 12, 1954 Filed Dec. '7, 1951 'I II II M. c. KOESTER 2,665,804 SHIPPING CONTAINER FOR GLASS SHEETS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3nventer attorney;

Patented Jan. 12, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHIPPING. CONTAINER FOR GLASS SHEETS Melvin C. Koester, Toledo, Ohio, assignor to Libbey-Owens-Ford Glass Company, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application December '7, 1951, Serial No. 260,499

8 Claims.

The present invention relates broadly to the art of packaging and more particularly to a container, box or carton of novel and improved construction for the handling and shipping of articles, such as for example, bent or curved sheets or" glass or other frangible material.

An important object of the invention is the provision of an improved shipping container for bent or curved sheets of glass which adequately cushions and supports the glass sheet or sheets 1 and maintains said sheet or sheets in floatable relation with respect to the walls of the container.

Another object of the invention is to provide such'a shipping container which is formed largely of cardboard or the like, which may be readily assembled from aminimum number of parts, and and which is strong, sturdy and durable in construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a shipping container wherein cushioning and supporting means of a novel character are arranged within the container and associated directly with the glass sheet or sheets to brace said sheet or sheetsalong areas of greatest stress and also to prevent chipping along the edges thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a shipping container of the character described, novel supporting means in engagement with the edges of the glass sheet or sheets which maintain said sheet or sheets spaced from the walls of the container and yet permit limited movement of the sheet or sheets horizontally and vertically within the shipping container with less likelihood of breakage than was heretofore considered possible to achieve.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent during the course of the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like. numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the shipping container;

Fig. is a diagrammatic perspective veiwof the container illustrated in Fig. 1, showing the location of the cushioning and supporting means with respect tcthe glass sheet;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal detail sectional-view of the container shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. A is a vertical-detail section showing the component parts of the' container illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the shipping-con- .2 tainer showing another type of supporting means;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the container illustrated in Fig. 5, showing the location of the supporting means in relation to the glass sheet or sheets;

Fig. 7 is a horizontal detail sectional view of the container shownin Fig. 5; and

Fig. 8 is a vertical detail section showing the component parts of the container illustrated in Fig. 5.

While the container of this invention is particularlysuited for the packaging and shipment of bent or curved glass sheets, and will be described hereinafter as utilized for that purpose, it will be appreciated that the container hereindisclosed may be used for other articles of a similar character, and that the invention is not limited to any specific use.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to'Figs. 1 to 4, there is provided a shipping container designated in its entirety by the numeral l0 and comprising a substantially rectangular exterior box or carton II in which is supported one or'more bentor curved sheets'of glass, here'- inafterreferred to by the letter A. The carton l I is preferably manufactured from relatively heavy double-face cardboard, fiberboard; paperboard or the like and is composed of a suitably sea-led bottom 12, end walls I3 and l4, side walls [5 and I6 and a top [1 comprising end flaps I8 and is and side flaps 20 and 2 l.

Disposed within the carton H and positioned to engage the upper and lower edges of the glass sheet A substantially intermediate the opposite end edges thereof is a center supporting member 22. This member, which preferably is formed from the same type material as the carton ll, comprises an upper bracing section 23 and a lower bracing section 24, said sections being maintained in spaced parallel relation by a separator 25 which is disposed closely adjacent and parallel to the side wall 16 ofthe carton ll.

As may be seen in Figs. 2 and 4., each bracing section 23-an-d 24' is formed of a. single length of corrugated material and is shaped to provide a substantially= rectangular portion 2% integrally associated with; a boot-like portion 21. As thus constructedand' located, the portions 225 and El havea combined length substantially equal to the distance between the side walls (5 and It of the carton II and each'function to brace and maintain the other in. the shape indicated, yet by reason of their particular design and arrangement,-allow limited horizontal and vertical mcvement of the glass sheet A within the carton l i as it proceeds in transit and receives the shocks which are normally associated with present day shipments. To explain more fully, the substantially rectangular portion 26 has two adjoining surfaces 25 and 29 positioned adjacent the top 52 and side wall 16, respectively, of the carton H, thereby assuring that said portion 2% will not readily depart from the configuration shown, while the boot-like portion 2'? is in direct contact with the side wall l5 and top I! of the carton by means of the base Bil and horizontal segment 3% respectively of said portion 27.

Each boot-like portion 21 of the bracing sections 23 and 24 further comprises an angularly arranged segment 32 extending diagonally from the base as of each portion 21, and a horizontal extension or saddle 33 which proceeds inwardly from the segment 32 and receives the upper or lower edge of the glass sheet A.

It may thus be seen that by means of the novel center supporting member 22 herein disclosed the central area of the curved glass sheet A, which area is subjected to considerable stress and strain in shipment, is not only maintained spaced from the bottom i2 and top H of the carton H but is held in a substantially rigid cushioned position within said carton. Yet, at the same time, the sheet A is permitted freedom of movement to a limited degree such as may be necessary should the carton be accidentally dropped from the normal position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, to a position in which the carton l I rests on either of the side walls l5 and it thereof. In other words,

as the glass sheet A carried within the carton l i proceeds during shipment the upper and lower edges of said sheet will be held substantially rigid within the boot-like portions 21 of the bracing sections 23 and 24 by their cushioned contact with the angularly arranged segment 32 and saddle 33 of each portion 21. However, should the carton H receive lateral jarring as it is handled during shipment, that portion of the lateral force which is not absorbed by the carton itself will be transferred to the center supporting member 22, and the other supporting and cushioning means associated therewith to be hereinafter described. As such a force is received by the member 22 the sheet A will move to a limited extent in a transverse direction, depending upon the direction from which the force originates. Should the force be directed at the convex surface of the sheet A, the upper and lower edges of said sheet will move slightly inwardly from. their position in contact with the a'ngularly arranged segment 32 and saddle 3S, and should the force be of substantial magnitude, said edges will traverse the length of the saddle 33 and engage the vertical extension 34 of corrugated material which overlaps the substantially rectangular portion 2 6 of each bracing section 23 and 24. By virtue of the shape of said portion 26, the sheet A will be stopped in its movement and cushioned thereagainst. Similarly, should the carton I receive a lateral force directed against the concave surface of the sheet A, the upper and lower edges of said sheet will press against the angularly arranged segment 32 in the manner shown in Fig. i and said segment will move outwardly toward the base 3!] of the boot-like portion 2'1, thereby permittin limited movement of the sheet A and cushioning said sheet during such movement.

The present invention further contemplates, in novel association with the center bracing mem- 4 1 ber 22 herein disclosed and above described, the provision of additional supporting and cushioning means. Such supporting means comprise, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, end filler members 35, one of which is positioned in engagement with each end edge of the glass sheet A.

Each end filler member 35 is preferably constructed of a single sheet of double-face corrugated cardboard, fiberboard, paperboard or the like and is suitably folded to provide a trapezium 36 having an accordion or Z -shaped extension 3i projecting outwardly therefrom and contacting the side wall IE5 of the carton l I. The trapezium is positioned whereby one of the parallel sides 38 has a portion thereof in parallel abutting relation with an end channel member 39 and one of the non-parallel sides 49 closely parallel the side [5 of-the carton ll. As may be further observed, the remaining sides 4! and 32 of the trapezium present a double layer of corrugated material to provide greater cushioning and bracing should the glass sheet A come in contact therewith, and that the non-parallel side 52 of the trapezium 36 lies generally parallel to the glass sheet A.

The accordion or Z-shaped extension 31 of the filler member 35 functions to receive an end edge of the sheet A therein, to space that portion of the sheet from the side wall 16 of the carton I l, and to maintain the end portion of said sheet in substantially rigid yet floatable relation with respect to the container. Due to the particular shape of the extension 31 and the compressibility imparted thereto by virtue of its composition and configuration, the glass sheet A is held relatively rigid by the location of one of the edges thereof in a fold formed by the V-shaped portions a and b of the accordion-like extension. By so maintaining the sheet, in combination with the cushioning support granted by the center member 22, the end filler members 35 effectively preclude undesirable shifting of the sheet A during handling.

However, should the shipping container ill receive rough handling en route to its destination,

" the filler members 35 will coact with the center supporting member 22 to allow a limited freedom of movement of the glass sheet and thereby eliminate or minimize the liability of breakage. To illustrate, a force directed at the convex surface of the sheet A will have, in addition to the effect noted above with respect to the center member 22, the efiect of directing the trapezium 35 inwardly toward the sheet until it contacts said sheet. Any further force will tend to compress the Z-shaped extension 31' and will be absorbed by said extension or the trapezium prior to being transferred to the sheet. A force approaching from the opposite direction and received by the carton I! will result in compression of the Z- shaped extension, slight movement of the sheet toward the trapezium, and stoppage of the sheet by the corrugations of said trapezium.

As above noted, there is positioned in overlapping relation with respect to the end filler members 35 an end channel member 39. This latter member serves to provide a firm level surface against which the points of the accordion or Z-shaped extension 31 may press upon compression thereof, to protect the resilient cushioning member 43 against piercing by said points of the extension 3?, and to provide additional cushioning for the opposite ends of the glass sheet A and thereby avoiding chipping or movement thereof through the end walls i3 and M of the qarton ll.

l'Ilhe: resilient. cushioning-member ,"whichsis positioned :betweenuthe :endt channel. member-39 and: end-nwa lls Hand M ott'he carton I lirin paral- 'lel abutting relation.thermvith, :has the principal functions of". efiectively preventingx movement of the endp-edges' of -the= sheet. 'A through the end wallsof the-1box,-th'srtunction being? performed inoomhination w :IZ ha-ped' extension :31, and further. to cushion" and-protect :theglass sheet in the-event ofendwise. movementwith-in the carton r l I. This resilient cushioning rmemberWS, which conforms in siseand shapetoithe'endwalls l3sand' H :of the carton ds occasionally lcnoiwn to'the tradeias aplyeplypacknndis formed from a; plurality'fof. parallels sheets olzekraft. paperhetween -whichtare adhesively. secured-additional sheets ofcoruugated kraft pa-per.

. The shipping container illabove-disclosedwhen assembled with the T cushioning and supporting means described positioned w-ith respect to .-.a curved or bent-glass sheet "willaccord to the sheet adequateprotection and substantial: freedom from I breakage -.heretofore :oonside-red unavoidable in theiart. It-is to benot-ed in particular thatthe'cen-tral area of the glass sheet, which area lay-virtue of the curvature of I the glass-is subjected to considerable stress during'movement, is adequately bracedandcushioned throughouta substantial-portionlof its length; and further that the edges-of the sheet,:w-hich previously were frequently :ohipped or otherwise i damaged as -by breaking-through the end walls =of-the car-toners also properly-cushionedumd supported... -Notwithstanding this substantially rigid manner in which the sheet is maintainedya' fioatable relation between said. sheet and carton is provided by reason of the limited freedomof movement allowed. The above ..-disclosedshipping container is of particular application to the packaging and shipment of One piece. curved glass sheetsrsuch as for examp1e,-windshieldsand rear windows for automobiles andthe like. "An additional container, which has been found successful for thesafe and expeditious i packing and shipment of two-piece Windshields, which glass sheets' -are conventionally-shippedwin matched pairs, is illustrated in Figs. 5 to S-and W-iIl *behereinafter described.

This modified form of shipping container,-which is hereinafter designated. in-its'entirety by the numeral 64, comprises a substantiallyrectangular exterior box or carton "of the same general character previously described inconnection-with the other shipping container Ml. That the box. or carton supports therein one or more "pairs of curved glasssheets A :and is composeduof a suitahlyscaled bottomA-d, end, walls-Aland 48, side walls 49. andfill, and-atop Elcomprising end flaps-=52 and 53 and sidefiapsi l and 55, said flaps of course :being secured together during shipment of the container.

Disposed substantially centrally of the length of the carton 45 and intermediate'oppositeends of the glass sheets A is va pair ofcen-ter supporting members 56, which perform substantially the same functions-as thecenterbracing member 22 above described. These members 56 .-Whichare in general vertical alignment with one another and are identicalrin construction, serve. to maintain the part of matched-glass sheets A spaced from the top-5 l-and bottom460i the carton- 45, hold thesheets-A in-substantially rigid cushioned relation, and yet-permit a limited amount of movement otthe. sheets both horizontally and vertically withinthe canton.

In order to accomplish. the above purposes, each center member 2 56 is formed of a single sheet of corrugatedimaten-ial'dfianyoneof the .types. above suggested, :said sheet =being folded R toprovide 'a pair cfsubstantially rectangular portionstl and Swimming Ya diagonal: 59-extending between opposite-corners rand :asaddle-type portion t having a horizontal: seat "li'l and "vertical sides 62. -As may: be seen. in: Fig; -8, each of the substantially rectangular pQrtionsUSL- and -58 'has two surfaces thereof.-

parallel-contact with the top and side Fla-118ml bottom-land sidewalls of the ion): or earton-=45. :It iis' to be further observed that; said portions-island .58 include betweenppposite cor .ners thereof: the diagonal :59 which is; formed as a-partof these portions and functions to maintain said portions suhs-antiallyrigid and in the shape indicated-when the sheets Aare positioned therehetween.

The upper and-lower edges of the glass sheets Aare received' witlrinthe saddle ty-pe portions fill, .and when located as shown in Fig. 8,-abutagainst the-.hori-zontal-seat ti and arespaced between the verticalisides BZ-orsaid saddle-type portions. It is-thus evident thatsthe glass sheets are-restrained-against vertical movement and "cushioned by said seat 6| and that the close engagement provided between theseats and edges of the-sheets Acintroduces friction and. therebydiminishesflmovement. of-the sheets inwardly or outwardly-of the-cartQnAE. Howeveryshould aciden-tal .jarringhe received by the shipping container, the glasssheets will bestopped and cushioned by the vertical sides. 62 ofthe saddle-type portions if the force proceeds in a transverse direction, and willfioat upwardly and, downwardly againstthe cushionedhorizontal. seats. ii if the forceis directed in .a verticalmanner.

For the purpose of fur'therholding the glass sheets A relatively rigidwith respect to the carton 3.5, anda'dditionally. to cushion opposite. ends of thersheets and prevent their passage through the end walls M and 48 oisaid carton in the event of jarring, there-is also provided end filter members 63 in'contact with said end walls and in overlappingrelation to the ends of the matched pair ofglass sheets. In order that the flllfill. members 63 maylsuccessfully accomplish these objectives, each comprises-a triangular or pyramidal portion 64. positioned on the convex. surface of the pair of sheetsand interconnected to an angular portion 65 disposedcn the concave surfacehy a webtli which engages the edges of. the sheets- As is'best shown in Fig. "7, the base 61 .of. the pyramidal, portion 64 his in firm parallel engagement with the endwall l-l of the carton 4.5 and one side68 of said portion has a part thereof lying generallynpara'llel tothe convex surface of the, pair of..sheets.A. On theoppositesurface ofthe glass sheets, .one leg 69 of the angular portion'65. pressesagainst-the side wall 50 of the cartonAS, while the-opposite leg 70. of said portion 65 runs para-lleltotheside fill of the pyramidal portion .64. interconnecting these two portions 164..and-.and making actual contact with the edgesof thelglass sheets is the web 66, said .web: defining a pocket which cushions. and protects-the endedges of the sheets with a bottom section. H and. side sections '12.

By the novel-arrangement of 'cushioning and supporting.meanshereindisclosed, all areas of theshects. A-normallysubject. to chipping or stress sand .strain :are adequately protected. Should -a force be-di-rected stransve-rsely of the containerptheicenten supporting members 55 will function .i-n thewmanner previously described,

7 while the end filler members 63 will grant the desired cushioning support by compression of the angular portion 65 if the force is against the side wall 50, and twisting of the pyramidal portion 64 if the force is against the opposite side wall 49. A horizontal or longitudinal force 7 against either end wall 41 or 48 of the carton 45 will be dissipated without damage to the sheets A by the cushioned float provided by the web 66. Thus, although the pair of glass sheets A are carried and supported within the carton 45 in a relatively rigid cushioned condition, there is adequate provision for limited movement of the sheets in two directions, thereby eifectively avoiding breakage of said sheets should the carton be handled in a rough manner.

To prevent scratching of the inner surfaces of the sheets A as they are maintained in a vertical position parallel to one another, one or more sheets 13 of kraft paper or the like may be inserted therebetween. Also, if desired, resilient cushioning members similar to the members 43 above described may be placed between the end walls 4? and 48 and the end filler members 63 to add cushioning protection to the opposite ends 7 of the pair of glass sheets A.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred embodiment of the same, but that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. In a container for shipping curved sheets of glass or other frangible material, a substantially rectangular carton having top and bottom and side and end walls, a curved glass sheet arranged within said carton, resilient filler members having springable portions engaging opposite ends of the sheet throughout substantially the entire length thereof and maintaining said ends in spaced fioatable relation with respect to the side and end walls of said carton, and resilient spacer members arranged between the top, bottom and side walls of the carton in engagement with the side edges of the glass sheet, each of said members contacting both of the side walls of the carton and spacing said sheet edges from said side walls in fioatable relation therewith.

2. In a container for shipping curved sheets of glass or other frangible material, a substantially rectangular carton having top and bottom and side and end walls, a curved glass sheet arranged within said carton, resilient filler members having springable portions positioned at opposite ends of the sheet and overlapping said ends throughout substantially the entire length thereof, said members extending between the side walls of the carton and maintaining the ends of the glass sheet in spaced floatable relation with respect to the side and end walls of said carton, and resilient spacer members arranged between the top, bottom and side walls of the carton in contact therewith and in engagement with the side edges of the glass sheet substantially intermediate the opposite ends thereof and spacing the sheet from the top, bottom and side walls of the carton in floatable relation therewith.

3. In a container for shipping curved sheets h jacent one surface of the glass sheet and other portions providing folds within which the opposite ends of the sheet are yieldably and substantially entirely received and maintained spaced from the end and side walls of the carton, and resilient spacer members arranged between the top, bottom and side walls of the carton in contact therewith, said members providing a saddle-type portion within which the side edges of the glass sheet are received and maintained in fioatable relation spaced from said top, bottom and side Walls of the carton.

4. In a container for shipping curved sheets of glass or other frangible material, a substantially rectangular carton having top and bottom and side and end walls, a curved glass sheet arranged within said carton, resilient filler members positioned at opposite ends of the carton, each of said members having a portion disposed adjacent one of the side walls of said carton and spaced from one surface of the glass sheet and another portion extending from said first mentioned portion and engaging the opposite side wall of said carton, said extended portion providing a fold within which the opposite ends of the sheet are yieldably received and maintained spaced from the end and side walls of the carton, and resilient spacer members arranged between the top, bottom and side walls of the carton, said members providing a saddle-type portion within which the side edges of the glass sheet are received and supported in floatable relation spaced from said top, bottom and side walls of the carton.

5. In a container for shipping curved sheets of glass or other frangible material, a substantially rectangular carton having top and bottom and side and end walls, a curved glass sheet arranged within said carton, resilient filler members positioned at opposite ends of the carton, each of said members having a portion disposed adjacent one of the side walls of said carton and spaced from one surface of the glass sheet and another portion extending from said first mentioned portion and engaging the opposite side wall of said carton, said extended portion providing a fold within which the opposite ends of the glass sheet are yieldably received and maintained spaced from the end and side walls of the carton, and resilient spacer members disposed substantially centrally of the carton, each of said members having a substantially rectangular portion located adjacent the top, bottom and one side wall of the carton and another portion in engagement with the top, bottom and opposite side wall of said carton, said portions being connected by a saddle-type section within which the side edges of the glass sheet received and supported in fioatable relation spaced from the top, bottom and side walls of the carton.

6. In a container for shipping curved sheets of glass or other frangible material, a substantially rectangular carton having top and bottom and side and end walls, a curved glass sheet arranged within said carton, resilient filler members positioned at opposite ends of the carton, each of said members having a portion disposed adjacent one of the side walls of said carton and spaced from one surface of the sheet and an other portion extending from said first mentioned portion and engaging the opposite side wall of said carton, said extended portion providing a fold within which the opposite ends of the glass sheet are yieldably received and maintained spaced from the end and side walls of the carton, resilient spacer members disposed substantially centrally f the carton, each of said members having a substantially rectangular portion located adjacent the top, bottom and one side wall of the carton and another portion in engagement with the top, bottom and opposite side wall of said carton, said portions being connected by a saddle-type section within which the side edges of the glass sheet are received and supported in fioatable relation spaced from the top, bottom and side walls of the carton, a cushioning member positioned against each end wall of the carton and parallel to the resilient filler member, and a resilient channel member located between said cushioning member and said filler member.

7. In a container for shipping curved sheets of glass or other frangible material, a substantially rectangular carton having top and bottom and side and end walls, a curved glass sheet arranged within said carton, resilient filler members positioned at opposite ends of the carton, each of said members having a triangularly shaped portion disposed adjacent one surface of the sheet and against one end wall of the carton and an a saddle-type portion within which the side edges of the glass sheet are received and supported in floatable relation spaced from said top, bottom and side walls of the carton.

ranged within said carton, resilient filler members positioned at opposite ends of the carton,

each of said members having a triangularly shaped portion disposed adjacent one surface of the sheet and against one end wall of the oarton and an angularly shaped portion located on the opposite surface of the sheet, said portions being connected by a web defining a pocket within which opposite ends of the glass sheet are yieldably received and maintained spaced from the end and side walls of the carton, and resilient members disposed substantially intermediate the opposite ends of the carton, each of said members comprising a pair of substantially rectangular portions abutting the side walls of said carton and a saddle-type portion extending between and connecting said rectangular portions, said saddle-type portion receiving and supporting the side edges of the glass sheet in fioatable relation spaced from the top, bottom and side walls of the carton.

MELVIN C. KOESTER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,453,071 Kleeman Apr. 24, 1923 2,250,491 Lurrain July 29, 1941 2,337,468 Hilger Dec. 21, 1943 

